Courts and Crime

A Florida man was sentenced Tuesday in Bedford County Circuit Court to 16 years in prison for the armed robbery of a Sonic in Forest on Feb. 8, 2014.
Matthew Edward Kukulski, 28, had two weeks earlier robbed the home of his mother and step father. Among the items taken were four firearms. Two of these firearms were used by him and an accomplice in the armed robbery of the Sonic. His accomplice, Caitlin Williams, was sentenced last year, according to Commonwealth’s Attorney Wes Nance.

“I loved him…he was very kind, very respectful, and said I was to be cherished.”
One Virginia woman has lost $9,000, while another was asked to send $65,000, in a sophisticated love scheme that is targeting area users of a popular dating website.
In a scam known as ‘Catfishing’ a man pretending to live in Roanoke is using a false identity on Match.com and tricking legitimate users out of thousands of dollars.

Charges against a Hardy man for attempted second degree murder will go to a Bedford County grand jury following a preliminary hearing in General District Court Aug. 17.

Christopher W. Petersen, 29, has been charged with attempted second degree murder and assault and battery. Judge Lee Stilwell certified the charge against Petersen.
Just after midnight on May 27 Bedford County 911 dispatchers received a call to the 1100 block of Oyler Road in Hardy.

Jessica Suzanne Korczynski will be able to avoid a felony conviction if she remains on good behavior for the next year and follows terms set down in Court by Judge James Updike Friday afternoon.
Korczynski pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. The contributing to the delinquency of a minor charge stems from the fact that she had meth in the house at the same time her child was there.

Major Ricky Gardner isn’t changing his views on the guilt of convicted double-murderer Jens Soering, no matter what Soering’s lawyer may argue.
“Mr. (Steven) Rosenfield’s announcement this week does not change the status of Jens Soering’s conviction. In fact, these results have been publicly known for several years,” Gardner said of disputed blood evidence in the case.

According to a plea agreement between McAlexander and Virginia Assistant Attorney General Samuel Gene Fishel, McAlexander pleaded guilty to one charge of distributing child pornography.
Four other child porn charges were not prosecuted as part of the agreement. Though the charges weren’t prosecuted, the defendant could later be re-indicted on the same charge.

An ongoing dispute between some Bedford residents has led to multiple charges being filed in connection with a fight and a fire being set.
The most recent charges came Aug. 8 when a call was made about a structure fire in the 200 block of Mill Street.
According to a report from the Bedford Police Department, property under the house was damaged and part of the residence was damaged.

Last Tuesday August 16, investigators from the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office Vice Unit, assisted by the Bedford Police Department, executed a search warrant for 912 Grand Arbre Dr. in the town of Bedford. The search warrant was in reference to the alleged distribution and sale of cocaine from the residence.